Johnston County Earns Prestigious Statewide Award for Drinking Water Quality

Smithfield, NC – Johnston County Public Utilities has once again been recognized for its commitment to providing high-quality drinking water, earning the prestigious Area-Wide Optimization Program (AWOP) Award from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s (NCDEQ) Division of Water Resources.

The state honored 63 water treatment plants across North Carolina for surpassing federal and state drinking water standards in 2024. Johnston County’s East and West Water Treatment Plants were among the select few recognized for their outstanding performance and dedication to public health protection.

Johnston County also achieved Gold Star status, a distinction reserved for systems that have earned the AWOP Award for ten or more consecutive years. Only 20 facilities statewide received this high honor in 2024, placing Johnston County among North Carolina’s top-performing public utilities.

“This recognition reflects the hard work, expertise, and dedication of the entire Johnston County Public Utilities team,” said Johnston County Public Utilities Director Chandra Farmer. “Our staff goes above and beyond every day to ensure residents have access to safe, reliable, and high-quality drinking water.”

The AWOP program is part of a statewide initiative designed to enhance the performance of surface water treatment facilities. Facilities are evaluated on their ability to remove turbidity, a measure of water clarity that plays a key role in ensuring effective disinfection and reducing the potential for harmful microorganisms.

“Johnston County’s continued recognition by the state underscores our team’s long-standing commitment to excellence,” said County Manager Rick Hester. “Through advanced technology, staff training, and proactive water quality monitoring, we are proud to deliver a resource that meets and consistently exceeds state and federal standards.”

More than 2.8 million North Carolina residents were served by award-winning systems in 2024, reflecting a shared statewide effort to maintain and improve drinking water quality.

For more information about the AWOP program and a full list of 2024 award recipients, visit the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality website.